Regular Home Maintenance is Key
You LOVE where you live & inspecting your home on a regular basis and following good maintenance practices are the best way to protect your investment in your home. Establish a routine for yourself, and you will find the work is easy to accomplish and not very time-consuming. A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can put a stop to the most common — and costly — problems, before they occur. If necessary, use a camera to take pictures of anything you might want to share with an expert for advice or to monitor or remind you of a situation later. By following the information noted here, you will learn about protecting your investment and how to help keep your home a safe and healthy place to live. If you do not feel comfortable performing some of the home maintenance tasks listed below, or do not have the necessary equipment, you may want to consider hiring a qualified handy-person.
FALL Home Maintenance Checklist
In many regions, fall is the perfect season to tackle general home maintenance projects because the weather is usually dry and temperatures are moderate. Before you start your seasonal home maintenance checklist, examine your home's interior and exterior. Most of these tasks can be accomplished without the help of a professional, but it's always better to be safe and call for assistance if a project is beyond your abilities.
Here are our seasonal home maintenance checklist recommendations for fall:
Landscaping and Yard Prep
- Rake leaves and aerate the lawn.
- Remove leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts.
- Practice pest prevention by keeping firewood away from the house, trimming shrubs, and repairing rotten or broken woodwork. Remove any wasp nests hanging from eaves or overhangs.
- Drain and winterize exterior plumbing, including hoses and in-ground sprinkler systems.
Home Exterior Repairs and Updates
- Mend cracks and gaps in the driveway and walkway.
- Touch up exterior siding and trim with paint.
- Power-wash windows and siding.
- Inspect roofing for missing, loose, or damaged shingles and leaks.
- Repair or replace siding.
- Clean window and door screens.
- Replace old, drafty windows for more energy-efficient models.
- Seal cracks and gaps in windows and doors with caulk or weather stripping; replace if necessary.
- Inspect exterior door hardware; fix squeaky handles and loose locks.
- Wrap insulation around outdoor faucets and pipes in unheated garages.
Interior Cleaning and Inspection
- Have the forced-air heating system inspected by a professional. Schedule an inspection in late summer or early fall before the heating season begins.
- Check the fireplace for damage or hazards and clean fireplace flues. Have your fireplace professionally inspected.
- Tune up major home appliances before the holidays.
- Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Install a smoke detector on every floor of your home, including the basement.
- Clean carpets.
- Vacuum lint from the dryer vent.
- Check the water heater for leaks.
Monthly Home Improvement Checklist
Inspecting your home and completing monthly home improvement projects will keep your maintenance schedule on track and easier to manage. Follow this comprehensive home maintenance checklist each month to help save time and money:
- Clean the furnace filter to remove dust build-ups, make it easier to regulate your home's temperature, and ultimately decrease energy bills.
- Check the water softener and replenish salt if necessary.
- Clean faucet aerators and showerheads to remove mineral deposits.
- Inspect tub and sink drains for debris; unclog if necessary.
- Test smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and all ground-fault circuit interrupters.
- Inspect electrical cords for wear.
- Vacuum heat registers and heat vents.
- Check that indoor and outdoor air vents are not blocked.
- Flush out hot water from the water heater to remove accumulated sediment.
- Clean the garbage disposal by grinding ice cubes, then flushing with hot water and baking soda.